A ORLOV

Just as lucky for you that two of our riders got off their bikes at the start and were put back 15 mtrs otherwise the score could have been the other way round. Max was good but we have no fear of any of the other riders.

First home meeting for Swindon this season with a first leg result of BV 48 Swindon 42. The robins should be able to get the better of BV at Blunsdon, providing some of them remember to stay on their bikes at the start gate and not get off to do any gardening. http://www.swindonrobins.co/news.php?extend.3062

They did but it was forgotten

That might be ok but with continual grading it would not be long before the concrete slab ends up one or half an inch above the shale and what then happens to the bike when it hits it at 60 mph and takes off. A slab would also damage any blade used to reshape the track.

That would be a good idea then disqualify the rider and reallocate his points after the race.

That would be a good idea but as stated I thought it was the ref who dictated the start of each race and controlled the meeting not the club. i accept there might be delays because of accidents or an air bag replacement, but often at Swindon the delays last season were numerous, mainly down to tape restarts but for other reasons as well.

He did better than expected so good for him. It is early days so lets see how all the riders perform by the end of April

That is good but if the meeting is run by the ref it seems strange that BV finishes early but others drag meetings out as the ref changes from week to week and visit different tracks.

Last nights meeting was finished by about 9.15 ish so whatever the reason, speeding up has worked. I think as soon as all four riders are at the tapes the clock should be turned off and the race started. Because the riders use the two mins the clocks have delayed starts with all the gardening etc that has taken place.

Happy with a 6 point difference, Batch did well and Mitch scored more than I expected, so good for him. Early days but not the size of defeat predicted by some. Looking for a better performance from the robins on thurs.

And at Swindon

Matt needs to be careful as the value of Chris might go down this year, I would not want it to happen but he may have another bad injury, or just decide he has had enough of the UK. If Chris was really good there are a couple of clubs that could afford him.

What is the weather like up there Aces High, or anyone near the track ?

Will be interesting when they are on tv with Nigel trying to pick out the riders, he even gets them wrong when the colours are totally different and sometimes not even in the race.

Did you all sing the new KL anthem at the start of the evening ?

Even the English and Australian ones

Being the first meeting I would give BV a slight advantage on their home track but that will be reversed next thurs, overall it could go to either team.

They are allowed to leave the track if there has been a crash to fix anything on the bike or get second one, and the race has been stopped, but not for a tape infringment and restart. It might be ok on a warm summer evening at the weekend or when people are not cold or wanting to get home, but with interval, grading every four races a meeting should take about 90 mins.

The opening of the pit gate and allowing the mechanics to come out to the bikes is one of the annoying wastes of time, this should have been stopped or the restart time should have been 1 min, put on as soon as the race is stopped.

If they have signed a contract to ride for the British team and they ride elsewhere without permission then the promotor can sue them for breach of contract.

Could well be more stalling tactics.

But Stadia UK have screwed up by moving the position of the "new" stadium to the position of the existing one which is nearer new houses they have already built rather than having it next to the road which was away from them. I would rather keep the present site but this may open up a can of worms and give Stadia UK more continual excuses to not proceed with the stadium development.

I seem to recall that in one meeting out of 15 races we had about 7 to 9 restarts, absolutely rediculous, and it was cold as well.

That will help a little bit, but one of the biggest time wasters is allowing the pit gate to be opened after a restart and mechanics coming out to the bikes. If it was stopped the restart could get away before the two mins was up. The ref should have the power to turn off the clock when all riders are at the gate.

The meeting finishing at 9 - 9.15 is fine especially when the weather is like it is now, but some meetings go on and on due to pointless time wasting which is what is putting more fans off from continuing to attend. Last season we had so many call backs to the start it became rediculous and must have looked awful on tv, especially when the ref did not put the 2 min on as soon as the recall was signalled. Most watching on tv would have been put off going, and many recorded it and ff through all the delays.